Following the effect of braid architecture on performance and damage of carbon fibre/epoxy composite tubes during torsional straining

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2020.108451

Authors: Yuan Chai (The University of Manchester) , Ying Wang (The University of Manchester) , Zeshan Yousaf (The University of Manchester) , Malte Storm (Diamond Light Source) , Nghia T. Vo (Diamond Light Source) , Kaz Wanelik (Diamond Light Source) , Timothy L. Burnett (The University of Manchester) , Prasad Potluri (The University of Manchester) , Philip J. Withers (The University of Manchester)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Composites Science And Technology

State: Published (Approved)
Published: September 2020
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 13704 , 18197

Abstract: The torsional performance of bi-axially braided carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) tubes as a function of braid architecture is investigated. It is found that for a given braid pattern, the 45° braided CFRP tubes have higher shear moduli and lower shear strength than the 35° braids. In general, 2/2 (regular) braided CFRP tubes exhibit both higher shear strength and higher shear modulus than 1/1 (diamond) braids. However, beyond the peak load, the shear strength of 2/2 braided CFRPs exhibits sudden, steep drops, resulting in a lower remnant shear strength than 1/1 structures after the shear strain exceeds 4.5%. Moreover, the damage evolution is monitored in-situ by synchrotron X-ray computed tomography during torsional straining. It showed that for a 2/2 structure, inter-tow debonded regions are vertically interconnected allowing rapid crack propagation and strength drops, whereas for the 1/1 braid they are distributed in a chequer board causing more gradual loss of strength. The fibre/matrix interfacial strength and tow cross-over density play key roles in the torsional failure of 1/1 and 2/2 braided CFRP tubes, as the former controls damage initiation and the latter controls damage propagation.

Journal Keywords: Textile composites; Debonding; Damage mechanics; X-ray computed tomography; Braiding

Subject Areas: Materials, Engineering


Instruments: I13-2-Diamond Manchester Imaging

Documents:
1-s2.0-S0266353820322417-main.pdf